Nikola Jokic detailed his decisive go-ahead shot in Denver’s 125-123 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. “We run the pick and roll… Jamal had a kind of mid-range and he passed me and I had like a little floater push out… and I made it,” Jokic said, crediting teamwork on the final possession.
The Nuggets center emphasized the defensive effort that secured the victory. “We knew the ball is going to find Booker somehow and I think we did a good job… he needed to work for it and that’s what we wanted,” Jokic added.
Jokic reflected on his early impact in the game and the flow that allowed him to dominate. “The tempo of the game… we were making shots. The guys were getting open and I didn’t turn the ball over that much. Everything kind of was working for me,” he said.
The superstar also highlighted the bench’s contribution in Denver’s small-ball rotations. “Definitely something that we can use now… they need a little bit more time to get used to it to know what they’re supposed to do. But it can be an option for us for sure,” Jokic said.
He praised Collin Gillespie’s play this season. “Whenever he played, he played really good for us… his shot capability and how he’s a kind of tough player, he’s a winner,” Jokic said, noting the benefit of learning alongside Jamal Murray. “Seeing daily how someone else is creating his shots… it definitely helps,” he added.
Jokic acknowledged the continued pressure of high-level performances. “I’m just glad that I can still perform and impact the game… when you’re reading defenses, you can pass, you can score, you can do a multitude of things,” he said.
Discussing in-game decisions, Jokic explained the challenge of reading defenses live. “Even if you prepare… it’s not going to be the same. Maybe someone makes a mistake… you need to read and react. It’s split-second decisions,” he said.
With nine games left in the season, Jokic emphasized focus and health. “Try to stay healthy and play our brand of basketball… do a little things a little bit more detailed, a little bit better,” he said.
The Nuggets face the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday under travel challenges. “This is happening to us… we can just make excuses and that cannot be excused. You just need to go there and play the game,” Jokic said.
When asked about which part of his triple-double he values most, Jokic highlighted assists. “I just like the assist because my friend who passed away told me that assist makes two players happy and a point just one,” he said.
